Parents and students say Summit middle school's award-winning bands are in jeopardy because of staffing cuts to the music program.
A group representing music students in the school's choir, strings, jazz and beginning, intermediate and senior bands made a presentation to the board of education Tuesday to call for the reinstatement of a .2 music teacher who helps a another music teacher with band practice in the morning.
Parent Mitra Samiei expressed concerns the cut means the string program would be discontinued and other music programs, such as choir, reduced because a single teacher can't handle all the programs, which are attended by more than 200 students.
The position, which has been at the school for three or four years, was declared "surplus," said Samiei, who said she didn't understand why a position could be surplus when students were being taught.
"This has been a great loss to us," she told the board, pointing out that music study has proven to help students in academics and improve their social and emotional learning.
Despite their pleas, however, the parents didn't get any good news after board chair Judy Shirra pointed out the district is in a deficit position and schools have to make difficult decisions when allocating funds.
Assistant superintendent Julie Pierce confirmed a .2 music teacher has been discontinued because the position was required to support students in learning services. As well, the Coquitlam school's enrolment is expected to drop by 50 students in the fall.
Summit bands recently won gold and silver at the Sun Peaks and Whistler music festivals.
